Rotating feed chute slicer



Oct. 23, 1956 B, STAHMER 2,767,752

ROTATING FEED CHUTE SLICER Oct. 23, 1956 B. sTAHMER 2,767,752

ROTTING FEED CHUTE SLICER Filed Nov. 18, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hnl 4 .W

Oct. 23, 1956 B. sTAHMl-:R

ROTATING FEED CHUTE SLICER 7 Sheets- Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 18, 1950Gttorneg Oct. 23, 1956 B. sTAHM'ER 2,767,752

ROTATING FEED CHUTE SLICER Filed Nov. 18,1950 'r sheets-sheet' 4 lnventor 171,313 E/E/VHART 5m HMH?.

BV Q2 y Gttorneg.

Oct. 23, 1956 Y B. sTAHMER 2,767,752

ROTATING FEED CHUTE SLICER Filed Nov. 18, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5:Inventor EER/VHART SIAHME/P.

' Gttomeg Oct. 23, 1956 B. sTAHMER 2,767,752

` ROTATING FEED CHUTE sLrcER JFiled Nov. 18, 195o 7 sheets-sheet e 22aAv a Il@ l mventor 55m/#AEDT 5mm/1ER.

Gttorneg Oct. 23, 1956 B. sTAHMER 2,767,752

ROTATING FEED CHUTE SLICERV Filed Nov. 18, 1950- 7 Sheets-Sheet 7Zmnentor P/VHA/Por SMH/14H?.

Gttorneg United States PatentOV ROTATING FEED CHUTE SLICER BernhardtStahmer, Omaha, Nebr. Application November 18, 1950, Serial No. 196,371

9 Claims. (Cl. 14678) This invention relates to slicing machines of thetype having movably mounted feed chutes.

Attempts have been made in the past to construct a slicing machinehaving a knife carrier rotating in a horizontal plane and yet cutting acorrugated, criss-cross type of chip. Such machines have hadreciprocating feed chutes in order to present a potato to a rotatingslicing knife at two different cutting positions and have, for thisreason, been too slow to compete with flat-chipV cutting machines.

It is an object of my invention to provide a machine having one or morefeed chutes mounted on a rotatable carrier which latter is cooperativelydisposed with respect to, and synchronized with, a knife carrying rotorwhereby the knives of tbe rotor pass across downwardly opening outletsof the feed chutes to cut slices from objects in the chutes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine as describedhaving corrugated knife blades, the machine being arranged andconstructed in a manner whereby two slices are cut at each chute as thechute passes over the rotor, the slices being of Vcriss-cross corrugatedconstruction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine as abovedescribed so constructed as to cut slices of criss-cross, corrugated andperforated construction.

Still another object is to provide a corrugated slice cutting machine asabove described in which knives pass by the chute without cutting atpositions in which cutting is unwanted.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a corrugated slicecutting machine as above described in which unwanted slicing is avoidedby selectively positioning the knives on the rotor in a manner wherebyno knife passes a chute opening, in positions in which cutting isunwanted.

Yet another object is to provide a machine which is capable of cutting aslice having the corrugations on one side extending at a right anglewith respect to the corrugations on the other side.

Still another object is to provide a machine as above described whichcan produce slices having arcuate ridges and furrows by having a chuteand a knife radius of unequal length.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device for thepurpose described which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliableand efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture, assemble and utilize.

A further object of the invention is to provide la knife mountingrotatably disposed on a swingable rotor whereby a knife in the mountingcan be presented to a feed chute at any desired angle.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent from the following detailed description and claims and areillustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration,show the 2,767,752 Patented Oct. V234, `6

lce

principles of the invention and a mode in which I have contemplatedapplying those principles.

Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalentprinciples may be used and structural changes may be made as desired bythose skilled in the art without departing from the present inventionand the purview of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a new potato slicer including anelectrical motor and other driving mechanism; the chutes, certainknives, portions of the knife carrying rotors, and portions of the drivechains being shown in dotted lines. The dotted lines indicating the feedchutes in Figure 1 indicate the inside of the outlet openings thereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan View of a broken away portion of arotor, showing the way in which a corrugated slicing knife is mountedthereon.

Figure 3 is a view-in-section taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a potato chip or the like as cut by themachine shown in Figure l.

Figure 5 isv a frontal elevation of the slicing machine of thisinvention. A portion of one of the sprocket chains of the invention isshown in dotted lines together with the motor and other portions.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the rotating feed chute carrier or feedhopper of the invention, the chutes being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 7 is a view-in-section taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view-in-section taken along the line 8 8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a view-in-section taken substantially along the line 9-9 ofFigure 1.

Figure 10 is a frontal elevation of the back side of the guard showingthe several sections thereof.

Figure ll is a diagrammatic top plan view of a modifcation showing tworotors and the feed chute carrier, the feed chute carrier being shown indotted lines. The view is for the purpose of showing the principle of amachine having a different arrangement of cutting knives and also forshowing an adjustable mounting for a knife. The feed chute carrier isshown in dotted lines and has one feed chute also shown in dotted lines.The drive chains and other parts of themachine are not shown in Figure11. A left hand rotor has an adjustable knife. The right hand rotor hasa stationary knife set at a preferred angle.

Figure 12 is an enlarged bottom plan view broken away portion of theleft hand rotor of Figure 11 around the adjustable knife mounting plate.

Figure 13 is a view-in-section taken along the line 13--13 of Figure 12,the view being turned right side upso that the cutting edge of the knifeis disposed upwardly.

Figure 14 is a top plan View of a modification of the potato slicer ofFigure 1. The number of chutes used in this modification increasedsomewhat Within space limits although the dimensions of :the machinemust be larger to accommodate more chutes. The chutes, certain knives,portions of the knife carrying rotors, and portions of the drive Ichainsare shown in dotted lines. The dotted lines which indicate the feedchutes in Figure 14 are the lines of the inside of the outlet openings.

Figure 15 is an enlarged top plan view of a broken away portion of arotor, showing the Way in which a corrugated slicing knife is mountedthereon.

Figure 16 is a view-in-section taken along the line 16-16 of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a top plan View of a potato chip or the like as cut by themachine shown in Figure 14.

Figure 18 is a frontal elevation of the slicing machine of thisinvention. A portion of one of the sprocket J chains is shown in dottedlines together with the motor and other portions.

Figure 19 is a top plan view of the rotating feed chute carrier or feedhopper of the invention, the chutes being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 20 is a view-in-section taken along the line 20-20 of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a view-in-section taken along the line 21-21 of Figure 14.

Figure 22 is an enlarged detailed view of a feed chute as seen from theside, broken away portions of the chute carrier bottom and of the wallin front of the chute being shown in section.

Figure 23 is a view looking at Figure 22 from the right hand sidethereof.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description andparticularly to Figures l, and 9, a removable elongated rectangularpotato chip receiving pan is disposed on an upper horizontal plate 12 ofa platform 14.

The platform 14 has a lower plate 16 spaced beneath the upper plate 12.Two spaced apart parallel vertical ribs 18 are welded or otherwisesuitably secured between the upper plate 12 and the lower plate 16.

A vertically disposed wallplate 20, located in back of the pan 10, iswelded at its lower end to the rear of the upper plate 12 and to thelower plate 16.

Two spaced apart vertical webs 22, welded in a position abutting theback side of the wallplate 20, extend down the wall 20 and are welded attheir lower ends to the lower platform plate 16 for providing the wall20 with a firm support.

An electric motor 24, spaced apart from the wallplate 20, is securelymounted upon a horizontal shelf 26. The shelf 26 is welded at its innerend to the backside of the wallplate 20 on a level with the upperplatform plate 12.

A web 28, welded between the shelf 26 and the lower platform plate 16,provides the shelf with rm support.

A vertical shaft 30, provided with a gear 32 secured near its lower end,is disposed between the motor 24 and the wallplate 20.

The lower end of the shaft is disposed in an annular bearing block 34,which latter is secured to the upper surface of the shelf 26.

The shaft 36 of the electric motor 24 is provided with a gear 38disposed in mesh with the gear 32 of the shaft 30. A sprocket wheel 38,secured to the shaft 30, is spaced above the gear 32 for reasons laterdescribed.

At the top of the machine, a horizontal beam 40 is provided, having ateach end an integrally formed bearing blocks 42, which latter havevertically disposed apertures 44.

The upper end of the shaft 30 is disposed through, and protrudesupwardly from, one of the apertures 44.

The other bearing block 42 is disposed directly over the center of thepan 10.

The beam 40 is disposed at a right angle with respect to the upper edgeof the wallplate 20 and is welded thereto. A curved reinforcing web 46is welded against the backside of the wallplate 20 and to the undersideof the beam 40 to further hold the beam 40 in position.

A short vertical shaft 48, provided with a sprocket wheel 50 secured toits upper end, is disposed through the outer bearing block aperture 44and extends downwardly therefrom.

The upper end of the shaft 30 is also provided with a sprocket wheel 52;and a sprocket chain 54 connects the two sprocket wheels 50 and 52.

A circular feed chute carrier 0r feed hopper 56, provided with acentrally located vertical hub 58 and a horizontal bottom, is disposedand spaced above the pan 10.

The shaft 48 is disposed within the hub 58 and terminates at the bottomthereof. As best shown in Figure 6, the hub 58 is adjustably secured tothe shaft 48 4 by means of two machine screws 60, which latter arethreaded through two horizontal, oppositely disposed, threaded aperturesprovided in the hub 58. The screws 60 are turned inwardly against theshaft 48 and secure the tub 56 to the said shaft.

A later described knife rotor mechanism is upheld by two horizontal,spaced apart, parallel struts 62. The struts 62 are each welded at oneend to the forward face of the wallplate 20 and extend outwardly at aright angle therefrom beneath the feed hopper 56 and over the pan 1).

As best shown in Figure 5, two vertical shafts 66 are disposed onethrough each bearing block 64. The shafts 66 are each provided with asprocket wheel 68 secured thereto immediately below the bearing blocks64.

A horizontally disposed sprocket chain 70 encircles each sprocket wheel68 and, as shown in Figure 5, the left hand shaft 66 is provided with afurther sprocket wheel 72 secured thereto below the sprocket wheel 68. Afurther sprocket chain 74, disposed through an aperture 76 in thewallplate 20, encircles the lower sprocket wheel. 68 and the sprocketwheel 38, which is secured to the shaft 30 as previously described.

Two horizontal, circular, flat knife rotors 78, each having a hub 80beneath a center aperture 82, are secured one to the upper end of eachshaft 66.

As best shown in Figures l, 2, and 3, each rotor 78 is preferablyprovided with four radially disposed spaced apart slots 84, extendingoutwardly from points near each rotors center lto points close to itsperimeter. The spacing of the slots will be more completely describedlater.

Elongated corrugated knives 86, disposed overlapping the upper side ofeach slot 84, are each disposed at an inclination with respect to theplane of rotation of its rotor 78 and each protrudes above the surfaceof the rotors 78 at its upward cutting edge 88. The outer ends of theknife blades 86 are bent downwardly toward their rotors at an angle ofabout ten degrees with respect to the remainder of the knife. Therearward portion of the knife blade 86 is preferably disposed at anangle of approximately fifteen degrees with respect to the plane ofrotation.

Elongated keeper plates 90, recessed in the upper surface of the rotors78 and secured by means of two machine screws 92 to the rotors 78, beardown at one edge upon that side of the knife 86 which is opposite thecutting edge 88 for maintaining the knives 86 secured at a cuttingangle.

As viewed from the top in Figure 1, the rotors 78 revolve in a clockwisedirection as does the feed hopper 56, as shown by the curved arrow lines94 and 98.

Referring now to the particular construction of the feed hopper 56, bestshown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, the bottom wall of the hopper 56 isprovided with preferably two oppositely disposed isosceles triangularapertures 101.

The base sides 106 of the triangular apertures 101 are each forwardlydisposed with respect to the remainder of the respective apertures. Thetwo remaining longer sides 102 of each aperture 101 are of equal lengthand converge toward each other meeting at a vertex disposed rearwardlywith respect to the direction of rotation from the respective base orforward side 104 of each triangular aperture 101.

As best shown in Figure 8, two feed chutes 109 are provided, onedisposed in each of the apertures 101. The feed chutes 109 are rigidlysecured to the bottom of the hopper 56 in any suitable manner.

Each feed chute has two triangular walls 107. The walls 107 are providedwith preferably flat triangular un dersurfaces 108 which convergeupwardly toward each other and are joined together above the open inlet110.

The wall surfaces 108 of each chute join along a straight line 111. Eachline 111 is disposed at a right angle with respect to a radius of thefeed hopper, which radius crosses the respective line 111 atapproximately the area-center of the respective chute. The forward edgesof the outlets of the chutes are disposed at a right angle to the lines111.

The lowermost edges of the outlet of each chute are disposed in ahorizontal plane and converge toward each other, as they extendrearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation, to a vertex, toprovide a wedge-shaped outlet opening.

' The converging surfaces 108 of each chute are disposed opposite theplane of the outlet and are inclinedly disposed with respect to theplane of the outlet. The surfaces 108 form the upper sides of awedge-.like compartment.

i Above each inlet 110 of the chutes 109, the leading edge 112 of twooppositely disposed helical ramps 114 are positioned. From their leadingedges 112 the helical ramps 114 spiral downwardly in a counterclockwiseor counterrotationary direction and terminate on the bottom of thehopper at the inlet 110 of the opposite chute 109.

The feed hopper is provided with two vertical walls 116, one of which isshown in elevation in Figure 8. The Walls 116 extend downwardly from therespective edges 112 of the ramp to the bottom surface 100 of the feedoutlet 56 and are each disposed around and in the plane of one of theinlets 110 of the respective feed chutes 109.

The walls 116 each slant with respect to a radius of the feed hopperfrom the outer edge of each feed chute to the respective forwardmostSide of the hub 58. The outer ends of each vertical wall 116 joindeflection plates or baffle walls 118. The vertical deflection plates118 are best shown in Figure 6, extend at an angle inwardly from thecircular sidewall of the hopper 56 to the vertical wall 116 at theentrance 110 in order to deflect potatoes into the chutes 109.

A floor plate 120 extends in a horizontal plane between the rotors 78.The floor plate 120 is disposed beneath the paths of the chutes 109 toprevent potatoes from falling out of the chutes 109 at times when thechutes are not disposed above the rotors 78.

The upper surface of the plate 120 is preferably disposed in the sameplane as the upper surface of the rotor 78. The plate 120 has twoopposite arcuate, concave side' edges 124 which are each concentric withthe respective rotors 78. The curved edges 124 of the floor plates 120are disposed closely adjacent the outer edges of the rotors 78.

The floor plate 120 is supported by a bracket 126 which has a horizontalupper portion and a vertically dis-V posed under portion. The upperportion of the bracket 126 is secured to the underside of the plate 120and the rearward end of the bracket 126 is rigidly secured in anysuitable manner to the back plate 20.

In operation, the electric motor 24 is set in motion driving the hopper56 and the two cutting rotors 78 in clockwise directions as seen by thearrows 94 and 98 in Figure 1.

A potato conveyor system, not shown, drops potatoes into the hopper 56as the hopper 56 is rotating. The potatoes are rapidly thrown to theperimeter of the tub by centrifugal force, sliding and rolling down theinclined ramps 114.

The potatoes enter the chutes 109 and are held there by other potatoespressing thereagainst at the entrance to the chutes.

The potatoes are prevented from turning and are forced downwardlythrough the outlets 102 of the chutes 109 by the converging triangularwalls 108, the lower side of a lowermost potato being pressed againstthe upper surfaces of the rotating rotors 78 or against the upper sidesof the iioor plate 120 and in the paths of the corrugated knives 86.

As best viewed in Figure l, as the corrugated knives 86 turn under thefeed hopper 56, the knives 86 move in an opposite direction to themotion ofthe chutes 109 and the potatoes, whereby the speed of approachbetween a knife 86 and a potato in a chute is additive or the sum of therotational speeds of each, thereby providing great cutting speed.

The machine is provided with a rectangularly arranged guard shield 128as best seen in Figures 1 and 9. The guard shield 128 has at wallportions which extend directly upwardly from, and rest on, the front,back and sidewalls of the pan 10. The flat wall portions of the guide128 are held in place by suitable brackets 129.

The brackets 129 are arranged in pairs, the brackets of a pair beingopposite each other and one on each side of the side walls of the pan 10and guard 128.

The brackets 129 extend downwardly and overlap the adjoining edges ofthe pan 10 and guard 128. The guard 123 is composed of several sectionsso that it can be removed from the machine for servicing and cleaning.It has a one-piece front section, two one-piece side sections and aplurality of rear wall sections.

The several rear wall sections are best shown in Figure l0 and includeend sections 129a and 129b and center sections 129C and 129:1. Thesections 129a and 129C share a pair of bracket plates 129, therespective bracket plates 129 overlapping both of these sections andbeing riveted to the section 129C.

The sections 129b and 1295! also share a pair of the brackets 129. Thispair of brackets is secured to the section 129i and overlaps the section129d.

The sections 129C and 129d share a pair of brackets 129e which areriveted to the section 129:1 and overlap the section 129e. The brackets129e extend horizontally, however, and overlap vertically adjoiningedges of the sections 129e and 129d.

The section 129rz is provided with a notch 1291c which cooperates with anotch 129g in the sections 129e to provide an opening through which oneof the struts 62 extends.

The wall sections 129b and 129d respectively have notches 129k and 129ifor receiving the other strut 62. The sections 129e and 129d are spacedapart at all times to provide an opening for reciving the bracket 126which supports the floor plate 120.

The operation will now be described. Referring to Figure l, the two feedchutes shown will be designated A and B. The knives on the left handrotor will be designated a, b, c, and d. The knives on the right rotorare designated e, f, g, and h.

In the rotational position shown in Figure l, potatoes 130, 132, and 134are shown in the process of being cut in the feed chute A by a knife a.At the same time potatoes 136, 138, 140, and 142 are being cut in thefeed chute B by the knife e.

It will be seen that the inwardmost potatoes are being held in positionby the outer potatoes 130, 136, and 138. The potatoes 130, 136, and 138are in turn held in place by the weight of still further potatoes, notshown, which would be disposed in operation, on the respective ramps 112and 114.

It will be seen that the motion of the knife a about its axis will tendto cause the furrows made in the potato 132, for example, to have acurvature with a concave side facing the axis of the left hand rotor.

At the same time the rotary motion of the chute A about the chutelcarrier axis will tend to cause the furrows to have a curvature withtheir center at the axis of the chute carrier. These two curvatures areequal in the sample machine shown in Figure l at the area-centers of thechutes A and B because the area-centers are equidistant from both thecarrier axis and from the respective rotor axes.

The two equal curvatures will counteract each other causing theresultant slice to have straight furrows cut at the areacenters of thechutes. Slightly curved furrows will be cut at other points in thechutes.

The amount of curvature of cut in other portions of the chute outlet isso Small as to be negligible because of the small size of a slicerelative to the distance from the respective axes and because of theabove-mentioned counteraction.

The chip 148 formed has substantially straight furrows from this cut asseen at 150 in Figure 4 although these slight curvatures mentioned wouldbe magnified if the distances from the chute to the respective axes, atthe place of cutting, were at minimum.

The chute A is not passed by another knife until the knife d meets it. Aline between the axes of the left hand rotor 78 and of the chute carrier56 would be approximately equidistant from the two positions of thechute A when being cut by the knives a and l1. This is accomplished byhaving the knives a and b spaced apart as shown.

When the knife b makes its cut, the chute A will have been turned to anew position causing the furrows 152 formed by the knife b to beangularly disposed with rcspect to the furrows 1.5i) cut by the knife a.The size of the angle between the furrows 150 and 152 is in proportionto the dimensions of the machine.

It will be seen that the chips 148 can be cut sufficiently thin for thefurrows 159 and 152 to intersect causing the formation of rows ofperforations 154 through the chips.

It will be seen that similar chips will be cut at the chute A by theknives g and f of the right hand rotor.

The capacity of the machine is doubled by having the chute B at whichsimilar chips are cut by the knives e, Ii, c, and b in sequence.

If one of the rotors is held stationary, as by removing the drive chain7i), chips can also be successfully cut. To hold the right hand rotorstationary, a vlock bolt 160 can be set into the shaft 66. The bolt 165iis threadedl;I mounted through the right hand bearing block 64. Manyother ways of mounting a knife in stationary position could also beused.

lf, for example, the knife e is held in stationary position at the placeshown in Figure l, and the only knife on the left hand rotor is theknife a, then a criss-cross of the furrows on the opposite sides of achip is possible.

If each rotor has only one knife and there is but one chute, thencriss-cross cutting would occur if the knives were synchronized to cutat two chute positions provided the positions were disposed one on eachrotor and on the same side of a line between the axes of the rotors andchute carrier.

It will also be seen that with only one rotor and the chute carrier,that criss-cross cutting in two positions would occur if the positionswere above and below a line between the axes, and if the rotor, havingbut one knife, rotated faster than the chute carrier in order to cut inthese positions.

Also, if a single rotor had two knives it could cut in these positions,above and below the line of axes. This would be the same as leaving outthe right hand rotor in the machine shown in Figure l. The second chutecould then be used or not, as desired, although two more knives on thesingle rotor would be needed for the second chute.

Another modification of the machine is shown in Fig ure 14, in which asmany feed chutes can be used as desired although the size and cost ofthe machine would be greater for the greater numbers of feed chutes.

The construction of the rotors, knives, chutes and other parts of themachine of Figure 14 is the same as for the machine of Figure l, exceptfor size and in the numbers of rotors and knives. For this reason theparts in Figures 14 to 23 have numerals exactly one hundred units higherthan the numerals of the corresponding parts in Figures l to 9, althoughthe letter designation of the chutes and knives are different. For thisreason these construction details will not be again described.

A further exception is that the potato chip shown in Figure 17 has thefurrows 250 and 252 on its two sides disposed at approximately ninetydegrees with respect to each other.

Referring to Figure 14, four feed chutes C, D, E and F are shown on thefeed chute carrier or feed hopper 156. These chutes are equi-distantlyspaced apart.

Each motor 178 has four equidistantly spaced apart knives k, l, m, n ando, 1J, q, r, respectively, radially disposed thereon.

Four cutting positions are shown in Figure 14. It will be seen that achip will be cut at each chute and at each of these four cuttingpositions during each revolution of the chute carrier 156 as the knivesare synchronized with the chutes.

y'the area-center of each feed chute at the place of cutting isapproximately equidistant from the axes of its carrier and the cuttingrotor. The cuts are therefor substantially straight, forming furrows 256and 252 on opposite sides of the chips 248.

The furrows 250 and 252 are disposed at substantially a right angle withrespect to each other because the chutes in successive cutting positionsare disposed at substantially a right angle to each other.

As the chutes pass across a line between the axes of the rotors 17S andthe chute carrier 156, they pass by the knives without cutting takingplace. This by-pass arrangement makes possible, subject to change insize of the machine, the use of unlimited numbers of feed chutes andknives.

ln addition to the above arrangements changes in dimensions can makefurther differences. The chute carriers 56 and 156 can be made larger toplace the chutes much further from their axes than the knives are fromtheir own axes. This will result in chips 14S having arcuate furrows 150and 152. lf the chutes extend past the axes of the rotor then cuttingcan occur on the opposite sides of the rotor axes from the chute carrieraxis, provided the knives and rotors are correspondingly synchronizedfor cutting.

The machine shown in Figure 14 will cut sixteen chips in each revolutionof the feed hopper 56.

This invention has provided a slicing machine for slicing potatoes andother foodstuffs capable of cutting slices more rapidly than heretofore,of cutting criss-cross slices and cutting criss-cross slices havingperforations.

In Figure 1l a diagrammatic top plan View of a modication of theinvention is shown. A left-hand rotor 300 having an axle 302 is disposedopposite a rotor 308 mounted on a parallel axle 310.

Between the rotors 306 and 388 a feed chute carrier 314 is shown indotted lines, having an axle 316 in parallelism with the axles 3112 and310. The rotors 300 and 308 and the feed chute carrier 314 are rotatedclockwise as indicated by the arrows 318.

Except for the positions of knives and a feed chute now to be described,the other parts of the machine in Figure ll are similar to those shownin Figure l and it is believed unnecessary to repeat the same.

A feed chute outlet opening 320 is shown in dotted lines on the carrier314 and a corrugated cutting blade 324 is shown in the process of makinga cut across the outlet of the feed chute 320. The forward edge of theknife 324 is disposed in a line in parallelism with the axes 3&2 and 316so that the parallel ridges of the blade 324 will be disposed inparallelism with the effective direction of the cut.

By effective direction of cut is meant the direction in which the cut ismade across the potato in the feed chute 320. As explained earlier, theknife tends to make a curved cut about its axis and the chute movementtends to make a curved cut about its axis. These two curves offset eachother producing a cut which is substantially a straight line extendingat a right angle to a line between the axes 302, 316, and 310. This istrue .only

in the situation in which the area-center of the feed chute isapproximately equidistant from the corresponding rotor axis and feedchute carrier axis at the time of cutting, as explained earlier.

The knife 324 is mounted in a circular holding plate 332 which latter isupheld on a circular ledge 334 which protrudes inwardly from theperimeter of a circular hole 336 in the rotor 300.

On the underside of the plate 332 a circular ring 344 is disposed. Thering 344 is adapted to clamp against the underside of a circular ledge334 and extends inwardly therefrom against a portion of the underside ofthe plate 332.

The ring 344 is held in place by means of screws 346 which arepreferably placed around the circumference of the ring 344. Each ring346 extends downwardly through the plate 332 for drawing the ring 344tightly and upwardly thereagainst.

The ring 344 is provided with a circular recess 350 in the upper sidethereof. The excess extends inwardly from a point adjacent the outerperimeter of the ring to a point spaced inwardly from the innerperimeter of the ring 344. The purpose of the recess 350 is to cause amaximum pressure to be asserted against the underside of the ledge 334rather than to have a part of the pressure offset by the excessiveengagement with the plate 332 itself. The knife 324 is similar to theknife S8 of Figure l and will not be described further.

It is mount-ed in 'a downwardly and rearwardly inclining recess 354 inthe plate 332. 'Ilhe knife 354 is held in place by a clamping member 356which is similar in all respects to the clamping member 90 of Figure 3,with the exception that the Iends of the member 356 `are taperedinwardly as best seen in dotted lines in Figure l2 to avoid engagementwith the screws 346. The clamping member 90 is itself held in place byscrews 358 which extend downwardly into the :clamping member 356 intothe plate 352.

It will be seen that when it is desired to change the angular positionof the cutting edge 'of the knife 324 the circular plate 332 can berotated a complete 360 degrees if desired, iirst loosening :andafterwards tightening the screws 346.

The plate 332 has Ia yslot 360 therethrough beneath the cutting edge ofthe knife 324. 'Ilhe slot 360 has downwardly and outwardly slanti-ngside walls giving the underside of the slot :a greater area than theupper side.

In Figure ll, the fright hand rotor 308 is also provided with la knife37? held down by a yclamp 372 similar to the clamp 356. The outer end ofthe forward cutting edge of the knife 370 is inclined forwardly from aradial position for the purpose of cutting 'across the outlet of thefeed chute 320 when the ridge of lthe corrugated knife 37 0 is disposedat the time of cutting in parallelism with the `eifective direction ofcut across the potato.

The purpose of the showing of the permanently mounted knife 370 in thisposition is Ito illustrate that the particular non-radial position ofthe knife 370 is myA invention and can be practiced independently of therotatable mounting 332.

It is important that the one or more feed chutes of the machine travelin a continuously progressive movement in what will be defined as VaStahmer path. A reciprocating or alternately retrogressive movement isless adapted to high speed |and is more subject to wear.

A Stahmer path is 4a closed path with the chute returning periodicallyto a starting point. A Stahmer path is such that the outlet of the chuteis always disposed downwardly of its inlet for gravity feed.

Another characteristic of `a Stahmer vpath is that it has atleast twosections disposed at an angle with respect to each other. Successivecutting occurs when the chute is positioned at first one and then theother of these sections, resultingrin a criss-cross chip having thecorrugations on one Iside disposed angularly to the corrugations on theother side.

In other words, the potato in feed chute A is being cut, as shown inFigure l, in the third quadrant of 'the carrier 56 by the knife a. I

It will be next lcut in the fourth Iquadrant of carrier 56 by the knifed.

4From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that arotating feed chute slcer constructed in accordance with my invention isparticularly well adapted for use, by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled land operated, and it will alsobe obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change `andmodification wit-hout departing from the principles and spirit thereof,:and for this reason I do not wish to be understood las `limiting myselfto the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts hereinshown in carrying out my invention in practice, except -as claimed.

I claim:

1. A machine for slicing sliceable objects comprising: a frame, a feedchute carrier mounted on said frame and rotatable in a substantiallyhorizontal plane |about Ia substantially vertical axis, said carrierhaving a bottom horizontally disposed and having an lannular side wallupwardly extending from said bottom and secured thereto to receivepotatoes therein, at least one feed chute on said carrier and spaced acertain radial distance from said axis, said chute having :an inlet andlan outlet, said outlet opening downwardly and terminating in ya planein parallelism with the plane of rotation of said carrier, said inletbeing disposed forwardly of said chute with respect to the direction ofrotation, said outlet having two edges oonverging toward each other asthe rearward end of said chute is approached to form a Wedge-shapedopening pointing rearwardly, :said chute having Iat least two wallsurfaces disposed opposite and 'above said outlet, said wall surfacesbeing inclinedly disposed with respect to each other both as seen inhorizontal cross section and in vertical cross section, said wallsurfaces being disposed converging toward eachother and toward the planeof said outlet -at their rearward ends; downwardly inclined spiral-likeramp means attached to 'said feed chute carrier and disposed on theinside of said sidewall means for delivering potatoes to :said inlet; atleast one knife rotor rotatably mounted 'on said frame :and rotating ina direction similar fto lsaid carrier and disposed closely underlappingsaid carrier, 'said rotor rotating .about an axis in parallelism withthe :axis of said chute carrier, the rotor axis being spaced from theaxis of the carrier at least lsubstantially the radial distance of saidfeed chute from said carrier axis; .a plurality of slicing knives onsaid rotor, said knives having elongated corrugated cutting edges, saidknives and :the rearward ends of said chutes rotating in directionsgenerally toward each lother during cutting; co-related drive meansmounted on said frame and connected to and driving :said carrier androtor in continuous rotation and synchronization, la slice is cut froman object at said chute i-n each of two chute positions as said chutepasses 'across said rotor, said positions being disposed such that thearea-center of said chute outlet is disposed on opposite sides of a linethrough the axes of said carrier land rotor at times of cutting at saidpositio-ns respectively, said chute passing alongside and bypassing :atleast one of said knives between the passage of said chute from one ofsaid cutting positions to lthe other, said slices each having theopposite sides thereof corrugated with the corrugations on one :side`extending langularly with respect to the conruga'tions on the otherside; and support means having a generally horizontally exten-dingsurface disposed closely spaced from Iand beneath said rotating feedchute carrier and horizontally aligned with and positioned closelyadjacent to said rotor for supporting said objects in said chute whensaid chute is not disposed above said rotor.

2. A machine for slicing `sliceable objects comprising:

a frame, a feed chute carrier mounted on said frame and rotatable in rasubstantially horizontal plane about :a substantially vertical axis,said carrier having la bottom 'horinontally disposed and having an`annular side wall upwardly extending from said bottom yand securedthereto to receive potatoes therein, at least one feed chute on saidcarrier and spaced a certain radial `distance from said axis, said chutehaving Ian inlet and an outlet, 'said outlet opening downwardly andterminating ina plane in parallelism with the plane of rotation of saidcarrier, said inlet being disposed forwardly of said chute with respectto the direction of rotation, said outlet having two edges convergingtoward each other as the rearward end `of said chute is approached toform a wedge-shaped `opening pointing rearwardly, said chute having `atleast two wall surfaces disposed opposite and `above said outlet, saidwall surfaces being inclinedly disposed with respect to each other both`as seen in horizontal cross section and in vertical cross section, saidwall surfaces being disposed converging toward each other 'and towardthe plane of said outlet at their rearward ends; downwardly inclinedspiral-like ramp means 'attached to said feed chute carrier and disposedon the inside of said sidewall means for delivering potatoes to saidinlet; at least one knife rotor rotatably mounted on said frame androtating ina direction simil-ar to said carrier and disposed closelyunderlapping `said carrier, said rotor rotating about an laxis inparallelism with the axis of said chute carrier, the rotor axis beingspaced 'from the axis of the carrier at least substantially the radialdistance of said feed chute from o said carrier laxis; a plurality ofslicing knives on said rotor, said knives having elongated corrugatedcutting edges, said knives land 'the rearward ends of said chutesrotating in directions generally toward each other during cutting;co-related drive means mounted on said frame and connected to anddriving said carrier `and rotor in continuous rotation andsynchronization; ya slice is cut from yan Iobject at said chute in eachof two chute positions as said chute passes across 4said rotor, saidpositions being disposed such ,that the area-center of said chute outletis disposed on opposite sides of a line through the axes of said carrierand rotor at times of cutting lat said positions respectively, saidchute being passed by only two of said knives in each passing over saidrotor, said slices each having the opposite sides thereof corrugatedwith the corrugations on one side extending angularly with respect torthe corrugations on the other side; and support means having agenerally horizontally extending surface disposed closely spaced fromand beneath said rotating feed chute carrier and horizontally 'alignedwith and positioned closely adjacent to said rotor for supporting saidobjects in said chute when said chute is not disposed above said rotor.

3. A machine for slicing sliceable objects comprising: a frame, `a feedchute carrier mounted on said frame and rotatable in a substantiallyhorizontal plane about fa substantially vertical axis, said carrierhaving -a bottom hori- `zont-ally disposed and having ran annular sidewall upwardly extending from said bottom and secured thereto to receivepotatoes therein, lat least one feed chute on said carrier and lspaced`a certain radial distance from said taxis, said chute having 'an inlet4and an outlet, said outlet opening downwardly and terminating in laplane in parallelism with ythe plaire of rotation of said carrier, saidinlet being disposed folwardly of said chute with respect Ito thedirection of rotation, said outlet having two edges converging ytowardeach other as the rearward end of said chute is lapproached to form lawedge-shaped opening pointing rearwardly, said chute having `at leasttwo wall surfaces disposed opposite and *above said outlet, said wallsuraces lbeing inclinedly disposed with respect Ito each other both asseen in horizontal cross section and in vertical cross section, saidwall surfaces being disposed converging toward each other and toward theplane of said outlet at their rearward ends; downwardly inclinedspirallike ramp means attached to said feed chute carrier and disposedon the inside of said sidewall means for delivering potatoes to saidinlet; at least one knife Arotor rotatably mounted on said frame androtating in a direction similar Ito said carrier and disposed closelyunderlapping said carrier, said rotor rotating about an axis inparallelism with the 'axis of said chute carrier, the rotor axis beingspaced `from the axis of the carrier 'at least substantially the radialdistance of said feed chute from said carrier axis; a plurality ofslicing knives on said rotor, said knives having elongated corrugatedcutting edges, said knives and the rearward ends of said chutes rotatingin directions generally toward each other during cutting; co-relateddrive means mounted on said frame and connected to and driving saidcarrier and rotor in continuous rotation and synchronization; a slice iscut from a object at said chute in each of two chute positions as saidchute passes across said rotor, said positions being disposed such Ithatthe areacenter of said chute outlet is disposed on opposite sides of laline through the aXes of said carrier and rotor at times of cutting atsaid positions respectively, said slices each having the opposite sidesthereof corrugated with fthe corrugations on lone side extendinglangularly with respect to the eorrugations on the other side; andsupport means having a generally horizontally extending surfaceydisposed closely spaced from and beneath said rotating feed chutecarrier `and horizontally aligned with yand positioned closely adjacentto said rotor for supporting said objects in said chute when said chuteis not disposed above said rotor.

4. A machine for slicing sliceable objects :comprising: 'a trame, a feedchute carrier mounted on said frame and rotatable in a substantiallyhorizontal plane about la substantially vertical axis, said carrierlhaving la bottom horizontally disposed and having :an annular side wallupwardly extending from said bottom and secured thereto to receivepotatoes therein, la-t least one feed chute on said carrier and spacedla certain radial distance from said axis, said chute having `an inletand `an outlet, said outlet opening downwardly `and terminating in aplane in parallelism with the plane of rotation of said carrier, saidinlet being disposed forwardly of said chute with respect to thedirection of rotation, said chute having 'an upper wall disposed aboveand spaced trom said outlet, said upper wall having at least oneundersurface inclinedly disposed with respect to the plane of saidoutlet and tapering from said inlet downwardly and rearwardly to wardsaid outlet to form a wedge-shaped chute; downwardly inclinedspinal-like ramp means attached to said feed chute carrier and disposedon `the inside of said sidewall means for delivering potatoes to saidinlet; at least one knife rotor rotatably mounted on said frame Vandrotating in a direction similar to said carrier `and disposed closelyunderlapping said carrier, said rotor rotating about an axis inparallelism with the axis of said chute carrier, the rotor iaxis beingspaced from the axis of the carrier at least substantially the radialdistance of said feed chute from Asaid carrier axis; 'a plurality ofslicing knives on said rotor, said knives having elongated corrugatedcutting edges, said knives and the rearward ends of said chutes rotatingin directions generally toward each other during cutting; corelateddrive means mounted on said frame and connected to and driving saidcarrier and rotor in continuous rotation and synchronization, la sliceis cut from 'an object at 4said chute in each of two chute positions lassaid chute passes across said rotor, said positions being disposed suchthat the area.- center of `said chute outlet is disposed on oppositesides of a line `through the `axes of said carrier and rotor at times ofcutting at said positions respectively, said chute passing alongsidefand by-passing -at least one of said knives between the passage of saidchute from one of said cutting positions to the other, said slices eachhaving the opposite sides thereof corrugated with the corrugations onone side extending singularly with respect to Ithe corrugations on theother side; and support means having a generally horizontally extendingsurface disposed closely 'spaced vfrom and beneath said rotating feedchute carrier and horizontally `aligned with and positioned closelyadjacent to .said rotor for supporting said objects in said chute whensaid chute is not disposed above said rotor.

5. A machine for slicing sliceable objects comprising: a frame, a feedchute carrier mounted on said Iframe land rotatable in `a `substantiallyhorizontal plane about Ia 'substantially vertical axis, said carrierhaving a bottom horizontally disposed and having an .annular side wallnpwardly `extending from said bottom |and .secured thereto to receivepotatoes therein, .at least one feed chute on said carrier and spaced :acert-ain radial distance from said axis, said chute having lan inlet and.an outlet, said chute outlet opening downwardly vand terminating in aplane in parallelism with the plane of rotation of lsaid carrier, saidinlet being disposed forwardly of said chute with respect to thedirection of rotation, said chute having an upper wall disposed :aboverand spaced from said outlet, said upper wall having lat least oneundersurace inclinedly disposed with respect to the plane of said outletand tapering from said inlet downwardly yand rearwardly to- Ward saidoutlet to form a wedge-shaped chute; downwardly inclined spiral-likeramp means attached -to said feed chute carrier 'and disposed on theinside of said sidewall means for delivering potatoes to said inlet; atleast one knife rotor rotatably mounted on :said frame .and rotating ina direction similar to said carrier land disposed closely underlappingsaid carrier, said rotor rotating iabout 'an axis in parallelism withthe `axis of said chute carrier, the rotor taxis being spaced from theaxis of the carrier at least substantially the radial distance .of saidfeed chute from said carrier axis; :a plurality of slicing knives onsaid rotor, said knives having elongated corrugated cutting edges, saidknives and the rearward ends of said chutes lrotating in directionsgenerally toward each other during cutting; co-relafteddrive meansmounted on said frame land connected to and driving said carrier landrotor in continuous rotation land synchronization, la slice is cut froman object at said chute in each of two chute positions as said chutepasses across said rotor, said positions being disposed such that thearea-center of said chute outlet is disposed on opposite sides of a linethrough the laxes of said carrier and rotor at times of cutting at saidpositions respectively, said chute being passed by only two'of saidknives in each passing over said rotor, said slices eachhaving-theopposite sides thereof corrugated Vwith the corrugaitions :onone side extending *angularly with respect to the corrugations on theother side; and. lsupport means Ihaving .a generally horizontallyextending surface disposed closely spaced from 4and beneath saidrotating feed chute carrier tand horizontally aligned with andpositioned closely adjacent to said rotor for supporting said objects insaid chute when said chute is not disposed ab ove isaid rotor.

6. A machine for slicing sliceable objects comprising: la frame, a feedchute carrier mounted on said frame and rotatable in la substantiallyhorizontal plane 'about .a substantially-vertical-axis, saidcarrierhaving a bottom horizontally disposed land having an annular side wallupwardly extending from said bottom and secured thereto to receivepotatoes therein, fat least .one feed chute on said carrier and spacedla certain radial distance from said axis, said chute having lan inletyand an outlet, said outlet opening downwardly and terminating in faplane in parallelism with the plane of rotation of said carrier, saidinlet being disposed forwardly of said chute with respect to thedirection of rotation, said chute having .an upper wall disposed 'aboveIand spaced from said outlet, said upper Wall having at least oneundersuriiace inclinedly disposed with respect to the plane of saidoutlet and tapering from said inlet downwardly and rearwardly towardsaid loutlet to form a wedge-shaped chute; downwardly inclinedspiral-like ramp means attached to said feed chute [carrier yanddisposed'on the inside of said sidewall means for delivering potatoes tosaid inlet; at least one knife rotor rotatably mounted on said frame androtating in Ia direction similar to lsaid carrier and disposed closelyunderlapping said carrier, said rotor rotating about an axis inparallelism with 'the 4axis of said chute carrier, the rotor axis beingspaced from the axis of Ithe carrier at least substantially the radialdistance of said feed chute from 'said carrier Iaxis; a plurality ofslicing knives on said rotor; co-related drive lmeans mounted on saidframe and connected to and driving said carrier land rotor in continuousrotation and synchronization, a slice is out from Ian object at saidchute in each of two chute positions .as said chute passes across saidrotor, said positions being disposed such that the area-center of Isaidchute outlet is disposed on opposite sides of la line through the axesof said carrier and rotor fat times of cutting at said positionsrespectively, said slices each having the opposite sides thereofcorrugated with the corrugations on one side extending angularly withrespect to the corrugations on the other Iside, the corrugations onopposite sides of each slice intersecting each other to provideperforations therethrough; `and support means having a generallyhorizontally extending surface disposed closely Ispaced from and beneathsaid rotating feed chute carrier and horizontally :aligned with .landpositioned closely adjacent to said .rotor for supporting said objectsin said chute when said chute is not disposed above said rotor.

7. A machine for slicing sliceable objects comprising: a frame, .a feedchute carrier mounted on said frame and rotatable in 'a substantiallyhorizontal plane about a substantially vertical taxis, :said carrierhaving a bottom horizontally disposed and having `,an annular side wallupwardly extending from said bottom and secured thereto to receivepotatoes therein, at least one feed chute on said carrier and spiaced lacertain radial distance from said axis, lsaid chute having ian inlet:and an outlet, said outlet opening downwardly :and terminating in laplane in parallelism with the plane of rotation of said carrier, saidinlet being disposed forwardly of said chute with respect to thedirection of rotation, said chute having an upper wall disposed .aboveland spaced from said outlet, said upper wall having at least oneund-ersurface inclinedly disposed with respect to the plane of saidoutlet and .tapering from said inlet downwardly and rearwardly toward.said outlet to form 2a wedge-shaped chute; downwardly inclinedspiral-like ramp means Iattached to said feed chute carrier landdisposed on the inside of said sidewall means for delivering potatoes tosaid inlet; at least one knife rotor rotatably mounted on said frame androtating in a direction Isimilar to said carrier Iand disposed closelyunderlapping said carrier, said rotor rotating about an axis inparallelism with `the axis of said chute carrier, the rotor 'axis beingspaced from the laxi's of the carri-er at least substantially the radialdistance of said feed chute from said carrier axis; a plurality ofslicing knives lon .said rotor, said knives having elongated oorrugatedcutting edges, said knives yand the rearward ends of said chutesrotating in directions generally toward each other during cutting;co-related drive means mounted on said Aframe land connected to anddriving said carrier and rotor in continuous rotation Iandsynchronization, 1a slice is lcut from an object :at said chut-e in eachof two chute positions .as .said chute passes across said rotor, 'saidpositions being disposed such that the area-center of said chute outletis disposed on opposite sides of I.a li-ne through the Iaxes of saidcarrier and rotor iat times of cutting at said positions respectively,said slices each having the opposite sides thereof corrugated with thecorrugations on one side extending angularly with respect to thecorrugations on the other side; land support means having a generallyhorizontally extending surface disposed closely spaced from land beneathsaid rotating feed chute carrier and horizontally #aligned with andpositioned closely adjacent to said rotor for supporting said Iobjectsin said v1'5 chute when said chute is 'not disposed above said rotor.

8. A machine for slicing sliceable objects comprising: a frame, a feedchute carrier mounted on said frame and Irotatable in a substantiallyhorizontal plane about a substantially vertical axis, said carrierhaving a bottom lhorizontally disposed Iand having an annular .side wallupwardly extending from said bottom and lsecured thereto to receivepotatoes therein, at least one feed chute on said carrier and spaced .acertain radial distance from said axis, said chute having lan inlet and'an outlet, said outlet opening downwardly and terminating in a plane inparallelism with the plane of rotation of said carrier, said inlet beingdisposed forwardly of said chute with respect to the direction ofrotation, said chute having fan upper wall disposed above fand spacedfrom said outlet, said upper wall lhaving at `least one undersurfaceinclinedly disposed with respect to the plane of said outlet andtapering from said inlet downwardly land rearwardly toward said outletto form a wedge-shaped chute; downwardly inclined spiral-like ramp meansattached to said feed chute carrier and disposed on the inside of saidsidewall means for delivering potatoes 'to said inlet; a pair of k-niferotors rotatably mounted on said frame `and rotatable in directionssimilar to said carrier and disposed closely underl'apping said carrier,said rotors rotating about 'axes in parallelism with the axis of saidcarrier and disposed on opposite sides of said carrier axis, the rotoraxes being spaced from ythe Iaxis of said carrier at least substantiallythe radial distance of said feed chute from said carrier axis; a slicingknife mounted on each rotor, said knives having corrugated cuttingedges, the cutting edges of said knives each passing closely across theoutlet of said chute, co-related drive means mounted on said frame andconnected to and driving said carrier and rotors so that a slice is cutfrom one of said object-s at said chute in each of two positions, one ofsaid positions being when said chute is above one of said rotor kniveson one side of -a line between said axes, the other of said positionsbeing when said chute is above the other of said rotor knives on thesame side of said line, said slices each having the opposite sidesthereof corrugated with the corrugations on one side extending angularlywith respect to the corrugations on the other side; and support meanshaving a generally horizontally extending surface disposed closelyspaced from and beneath said rotating feed chute carrier `andhorizontally aligned with and disposed be tween and spaced closelyadjacent to said rotors for upholding said objects in said chute attimes when said chute is not above one of said rotors.

9. A machine for slicing sliceable objects comprising: a frame, a feedchute carrier mounted on said frame and rotatable in a substantiallyhorizontal plane about la substantially vertical axis, said carrier`having 'a bottom horizontally disposed and having an annular side wallupwardly extending from :said bottom and secured thereto to receivepotatoes therein, at least one feed chute on said carrier and spaced lacertain radial distance from said axis, said chute having van inlet andan outlet, said outlet opening downwardly and terminating in a plane inparallelism with the plane of rota-tion of said carrier, said inletbeing disposed forwardly of said chute with respect to the direction ofrotation, said chute having an upper wall disposed above and lspacedfrom said outlet, said upper wall having lat least one undersurfaceinclinedly disposed with respect to the pla-ne of said outlet andtapering from said inlet downwardly und rearwardly toward said outlet toform a wedge-shaped chute; downwardly inclined spiral-like ramp meansattached to said feed chute carrier and disposed on the inside of saidsidewall means for delivering potatoes to said inlet; Ia knife rotorrotatably mounted on said frame and disposed underlapping said carrier,said rotor rotating about an axis in parallelism with the axis of saidchute carrier, co-related drive means mounted on said frame andconnected to and co-related with both said rotor and said carrier fordriving said rotor and carrier continuously in the same rotationaldirections in synchronization at the same speed, the rotor axis beingspaced from the axis of the carrier at least substantially the radialdistance of said feed chute from said carrier axis; means for drivingsaid rotor and carrier continuously in the same rotational directions insynchronization at the same speed; at least one slicing knife on saidrotor, said knife having a corrugated cutting edge, said knife and `therearward end of said chute rotating in directions generally :toward eachother during cutting Iat `a first cutting position of said chute; asecond corrugated edged cutting knife; means holding said second knifeand presenting it to said outlet for cutting at ya second cuttingposition of said chute, said `second knife being held in a stationaryposition with respect to said rotor, said chute and knives beingdisposed at said cutting positions so that slices cut at said positionshave the opposite sides thereof corrugated with the corrugations on oneside thereof extending angularly with respect to the corrugations on theother side thereof; and support means having a generally horizontallyextending surface disposed closely spaced from and beneath said rotatingfeed chute carrier Vand horizontally aligned with and positioned closelyadjacent to said rotor for supporting said objects in said chute whensaid chute is not disposed above said rotor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS477,377 Martindale June 21, 1892 738,616 Kollman Sept. 8, 1903 1,965,500Knott July 3, 1934 1,965,501 Knott July 3, 1934 1,972,586 Etter Sept. 4,1934 2,024,353 Goodman Dec. 17, 1935 2,086,708 Ferry July 13, 19372,611,408 Farmer Sept. 23, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 55,029 Switzerland Dec.5, 1910 342,442 Germany Oct. 18, 1921 513,890 Germany Dec. 5, 1930295,773 Italy Apr. 29, 1932 476,969 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1937

